The annual Suidoosterfees, supported by the City of Cape Town, returns once more to the Artscape Theatre Centre from 26 April to 1 May 2023 with a jam-packed programme as it celebrates 20 years of art and Cape Town’s local cultural heritage.
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Named after the persistent, dry and iconic suidooster wind that sweeps through the Cape, this year’s celebration includes showstopping performances that feature everything from drama, dance and music to visual art, conversations and comedy.
The festival opens on 26 April with Afskop-konsert, a special music production in collaboration with the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra honouring one of the festival’s founding members Professor Jakes Gerwel and former president Nelson Mandela.
To further emphasise the 20 years of cultural diversity and inclusivity, Suidoosterfees has lined up this year’s Stemme series with 20 actors, ten directors and ten writers involved and will feature ten short, powerful dialogues.
This innovative series proved to be a crowd favourite last year, and this year will certainly be no exception where performances are free to the public.
The popular opera L’inganno Felice will be staged in the Artscape’s Opera House and actors of kykNET’s Suidooster will be back at the festival with Suidooster Stormsterk 2.
In addition, the programme includes a music programme featuring 20 Musical Moments with the likes of artists such as André Schwartz, Lynelle Kenned, Emo Adams, Pierre van Heerden and Niël Rademan among others.
Die-hard festivalgoers can kick off their shoes every night at Late Night Boogie, a musical variety show with Gary Naidoo, Lucy Tops and other first-class entertainers.
‘The City is a proud partner of this inclusive event that highlights the rich diversity of our arts and culture and offers local and rural communities the opportunity to participate in nurturing their talents,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
‘I encourage all Capetonians and visitors to our beautiful city to join in on the gees of this cultural celebration,’ Smith added.
The Suidoosterfees also features various development opportunities making theatre and arts more accessible and affordable for the youth as well as upcoming artists, musicians, writers, teachers and directors with youth programmes, competitions, exhibitions, historical tours and the ever-popular kids’ theatre to keep the little ones entertained too.
You can access the full programme here.
Tickets can be booked at Computicket, or at Artscape dial-a-seat at 021 421 7695. Many productions are free for the public, but prior booking via email is essential. This includes the Jakes Gerwel talks, dance productions and workshops.
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Picture: Suidoosterfees / Facebook